Telecommunications connection cabinet

ABSTRACT

A telecommunications cabinet comprising a top, a floor, a pair of opposing sides, a front wall and a rear wall defining an interior, the front including an access door for accessing the interior. Within the interior are mounted a cable management structure, an adapter panel with an adapter configured to optical connector two optical fiber cables terminated with fiber optic connectors, and a fiber optic connector holder mounted in openings of the adapter panel. The connector holder has an opening configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap, the opening accessible from a front side of the adapter panel. A fiber optic connector including a ferrule with a polished end face holding an end of an optical fiber with a dust cap placed about the ferrule and polished end face is inserted within the opening of a fiber optic connector holder. And a fiber optic connector is inserted within the rear side of one of the adapters.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to cabinets for connectingtelecommunications cables.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Installation of telecommunications equipment to support the current andpotential future needs of a particular group of customers may make itdesirable to install more capacity than the current customer base alonemay dictate. Excess capacity may be installed to permit the easyaddition of new circuits for new or existing customers. Atelecommunications connection cabinet with such excess capacity may bepre-configured at a fabrication facility and installed in the field toinclude more circuits than are necessary to provide service to theexisting customers. Prior to the linkage of these surplus or futureexpansion circuits to customers, it is desirable to provide for storage,organization and protection of the patch cords or other connectioncables within the cabinet.

Such connection cables might include fiber optic patch cords terminatedwith fiber optic connectors. Fiber optic connectors include a polishedend face, typically held by a ferrule, which permits positioning of theoptical fiber held by the connector to receive and transmit signalsanother optical fiber or optical light source. It is desirable to keepthese polished end faces as free of contaminants as possible to improvethe transmission of light to and from the optical fiber held by theconnector. Such contaminants which might adversely impact thetransmission of light to and from the optical fiber include but are notlimited to dust and finger prints.

Dust caps may be provided for connectors to protect the polished endface of the optical fiber. However, when such dust caps are in place,the connector is not capable of being received in known optical fiberadapters, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,317,663, and U.S.Pat. No. 6,347,888. The disclosures of these patents are incorporatedherein by reference. A connector may be inserted into one of these knownadapters for storage or pre-wiring of a cross-connection point, aninterconnection point or some other type telecommunications switching orconnection equipment with the dust cap removed. While the adapters mightprovide some protection from contaminants to a single connector insertedinto an adapter, these adapters are not as effective as a dust cap inprotecting the polished end face.

It is desirable to improve the known methods and apparatus forprotecting the polished end face of a fiber optic connector withintelecommunications equipment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A telecommunications cabinet comprising a top, a floor, a pair ofopposing sides, a front wall and a rear wall defining an interior, thefront including an access door for accessing the interior. Within theinterior are mounted a cable management structure, an adapter panel withan adapter configured to optically connect two optical fiber cablesterminated with fiber optic connectors, and a fiber optic connectorholder mounted in openings of the adapter panel. The connector holderhas an opening configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dustcap, the opening accessible from a front side of the adapter panel. Afiber optic connector including a ferrule with a polished end faceholding an end of an optical fiber with a dust cap placed about theferrule and polished end face is inserted within the opening of a fiberoptic connector holder.

A telecommunications connection rack with a rack mounting structure, anda cable management structure, a fanout panel and an adapter panelmounted to the rack mounting structure. The adapter panel includes aplurality of adapter openings sized to receive and mount fiber opticadapters for optically connecting optical fibers within fiber opticcables terminated with fiber optic connectors, and a plurality ofoptical fiber adapters mounted within the openings. A cable connectorholder panel is mounted to the rack mounting structure and includes aplurality of openings sized similarly to the openings in the adapterpanel and a plurality of fiber optic connector holders mounted withinthe openings. Each of the fiber optic connector holders is configured toreceive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap in place about apolished end face of a ferrule holding the end of an optical fiber. Thecable management structure is configured to direct a fiber optic cablefrom the fanout panel to each of the adapter panel and the cableconnector holder panel and to store excess cable length.

A method of connecting telecommunications service cables includingproviding a equipment mounting rack with a fanout module, an adaptermodule, a connector holder module and a cable management structuremounted to the rack. A multi-strand optical fiber service cable isdirected to the fanout module. The multiple strands of the service cableare separated into individual fiber patch cords extending from thefanout module, with a distal end of each patch cord terminated with afiber optic connector. The fiber optic connectors include a dust cappositioned about a polished end face. A first patch cord is extendedfrom the fanout module into the cable management structure so that theconnector of the first patch cord is proximate a fiber optic connectorholder mounted within an opening in a front of the connector holdermodule. The fiber optic connector of the first patch cord is insertedinto the fiber optic connector holder without removing the dust cap. Theconnector of the first patch cord is withdrawn from the connectorholder. The dust cap is removed from from the polished end face. Thefirst patch cord is adjusted within the cable management structure sothat the connector is adjacent an fiber optic adapter mounted within anopening in a front of the adapter module. The connector of the firstpatch cord is inserted into the adapter so that the optical fiber of thepatch cord is optically connected to a second connector inserted withinan opposite end of the adapter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the description, illustrate several aspects of the invention andtogether with the detailed description, serve to explain the principlesof the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of a telecommunications connectioncabinet according to the present invention with an access door to thefront of the cabinet open.

FIG. 2 is front view of the telecommunications connection cabinet ofFIG. 1 with illustrative cable paths.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the telecommunications connection cabinet ofFIG. 1 with the adapters and connector holders removed.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the telecommunications connection cabinet ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of the rack, modules and cablemanagement devices of the telecommunications cabinet of FIG. 1 removedfrom the cabinet.

FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the rack, modules and cablemanagement structures of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a front view of the rack, modules and cable managementstructures of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a rear view of the rack, modules and cable managementstructures of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a front perspective view of a splice drawer module for usewith telecommunications connection cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a rear perspective view of a splice drawer module for usewith telecommunications connection cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of a fanout module for use withtelecommunications connection cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a rear perspective view of a fanout module for use withtelecommunications connection cabinet of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view of a chassis for the splitter moduleor the adapter module of telecommunications connection cabinet of FIG.1.

FIG. 14 is a rear perspective view of a chassis for the splitter moduleor the adapter module of telecommunications connection cabinet of FIG.1.

FIG. 15 is a first perspective view of a fiber optic connector holderaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a second perspective view of the fiber optic connector holderof FIG. 15.

FIG. 17 is a top view of the fiber optic connector holder of FIG. 15.

FIG. 18 is a bottom view of the fiber optic connector holder of FIG. 15.

FIG. 19 is a first end view of the fiber optic connector holder of FIG.15.

FIG. 20 is a side view of the fiber optic connector holder of FIG. 15.

FIG, 21 is a second opposite end view of the fiber optic connectorholder of FIG. 15.

FIG. 22 is a first perspective view of system for holder a fiber opticconnector including the fiber optic connector holder of FIG. 15 with afiber optic connector inserted.

FIG. 23 is a second perspective view of the system for holding a fiberoptic connector of FIG. 22.

FIG. 24 is a top view of the system for holding a fiber optic connectorof FIG. 22.

FIG. 25 is a side view of the system for holding a fiber optic connectorof FIG. 22.

FIG. 26 is an end view of the system for holding a fiber optic connectorof FIG. 22.

FIG. 27 is a cross-sectional view of the system for holding a fiberoptic connector of FIG. 8, taken along line A-A in FIG. 25.

FIG.28 is an exploded perspective view of the system for holding a fiberoptic connector of FIG. 22.

FIG. 29 is a perspective view of the main housing of the fiber opticconnector holder of FIG. 15.

FIG. 30 is a first perspective view of an inner housing of the fiberoptic connector holder of FIG. 15.

FIG. 31 is a second perspective view of the inner housing of FIG. 30.

FIG. 32 is a top view of the inner housing of FIG. 30.

FIG. 33 is a side view of the inner housing of FIG. 30.

FIG. 34 is a first end view of the inner housing of FIG. 30.

FIG. 35 is a second end view of the inner housing of FIG. 30.

FIG. 36 is a first perspective view of the cover of the fiber opticconnector holder of FIG. 15.

FIG. 37 is a second perspective view of the cover of FIG. 36.

FIG. 38 is a top view of the cover of FIG. 36.

FIG. 39 is a side view of the cover of FIG. 36.

FIG. 40 is a bottom view of the cover of FIG. 36.

FIG. 41 is a first end view of the cover of FIG. 36.

FIG. 42 is a second end view of the cover of FIG. 36.

FIG. 43 is a perspective view of the clip of the fiber optic connectorholder of FIG. 29.

FIG. 44 is an end view of the clip of FIG. 43.

FIG. 45 is a side view of the clip of FIG. 43.

FIG. 46 is a bottom view of the clip of FIG. 43.

FIG. 47 is a top view of the fiber optic connector holder of FIG. 15inserted within an opening in a bulkhead.

FIG. 48 is a perspective view of a bulkhead including a plurality ofopenings for receiving fiber optic connector adapters and the fiberoptic connector holder of FIG. 15 inserted within one of the openings.

FIG. 49 is a perspective view of the dust cap of the fiber opticconnector of FIG.29.

FIG. 50 is a side view of the dust cap of FIG. 49.

FIG. 51 is an end view of the dust cap of FIG. 49.

FIG. 52 is a cross-sectional view of the dust cap of FIG. 49.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary aspects of the presentinvention which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whereverpossible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout thedrawings to refer to the same or similar parts.

Telecommunications connection cabinets, such as cabinet 10 shown in FIG.1, are used to permit organization and interconnection of differenttelecommunications infrastructure cables. A multi-strandtelecommunications service cable such as an IFC or ribbon cable withmultiple optical fibers, may be used to electronically or optically linkwidely spaced facilities. The service cable may be directed into cabinet10 where it may be connected to a fanout module 34 and separated intoindividual fibers. Each of these strands may be connected to a patchcord 46 which may be terminated with a fiber optic connector. The fiberoptic connector of patch cord 46 (such as connector 200 described below)may then be inserted into the front of an adapter 50 mounted to anadapter module 36 within cabinet 10.

Adapter module 36 may also include a splitter that combines the signalsfrom up to 32 individual patch cords 46 into a single optical fibercable. As shown in the FIGS., there are four adapter modules 36 withsplitters. As configured, cabinet 10 may have up to four optical fiberscarrying the signals from up to 128 patch cords 46. These up to fouroptical fiber cables are directed to a splice module 32 mounted withincabinet 10. These up to four cables are available to splice in splicedrawer 32 for communication of the signals to other downstreamtelecommunication equipment.

For patch cords 48 connected to circuits for which connection todownstream telecommunications equipment is anticipated but not yetrequired, these patch cords are routed instead to a connector holdermodule 37. Connectors 200 terminating patch cords 48 are directed into aconnector holder 110. These patch cords 48 are not optically linked toany downstream equipment and are being stored and protected for damageor contamination in connector holders 110 until needed.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, cabinet 10 includes a housing 12 with atop 24, opposing sides 26, a front wall 22 and a floor 20. A rear wall23, shown in FIG. 4 below, cooperates with the top, sides, front andfloor to enclose the equipment mounted within housing 12 in an interior13. Sides 26 include vent openings 28 which are shielded to preventrain, snow and debris entry into interior 13. Front wall 22 includes afront access opening 16 permitting access to the front of the equipmentmounted within interior 13. A door 14 is hinged to one side of opening16 and closes off opening 16 to seal interior 13 from the elements whenclosed. A cable entry 18 in floor 20 allows the multi-strandtelecommunications service cables to be fed into interior 13 andcustomer cables from the splice tray to exit interior 13. While only oneopening 18 is shown in FIG. 1, additional openings in floor 20 may beprovided depending on the size and number of cables entering and exitingcabinet 10.

Mounted within interior 13 is a variety of telecommunications equipmentand supporting structure. As will be described below, interior 13includes a rack mounting structure to which this telecommunicationsequipment is mounted. The equipment within interior 13 includes splicemodule 32, fanout module 24, a plurality of adapter modules 36, and aplurality of connector holder modules 37. Adjacent this equipment aremounted a plurality of cable storage spools 30 and bend radiusprotectors 42. Spools 30 and radius protectors 42 cooperate to directcables between the fronts of the different telecommunications equipmentmounted within interior 13.

Within interior 13, adapter modules 36 and connector holder modules 37include a module housing, which will be discussed below. Each of thehousings for modules 36 and 37 are mounted within the internal rackmounting structure of cabinet 10. Adapter modules 36 are groupedtogether in an active connection stack 38 and connector holder modules37 are grouped together in a storage stack 40. Fanout module 34 ismounted beneath active connection stack 38 as the service cable enterscabinet 10 from below through opening 18. As configured in the drawings,cabinet 10 also directs the customer cables through floors 20, so splicemodule 32 is located below the active connection and storage areas. Ifthe service and/or customer cables enter cabinet 10 through an openingthrough or adjacent to top 24, fanout module 34 and splice module 32 maybe positioned above the active connection and storage areas.

Referring now also to FIGS. 3 and 4, cabinet 10 is configured to be afront access cabinet and no provision is made for allowing accessthrough rear wall 23. In the field, a technician would only need toaccess the equipment mounted within cabinet 10 through front opening 16to connect or disconnect a particular customer's circuit. Allconnections between the various equipment behind the equipment in theinterior 13 are not easily accessible and are anticipated to bepre-configured and cabled before cabinet 10 leaves the manufacturingfacility. Alternatively, rear wall 23 could be configured with an accessdoor if such access is desired.

Modules 34, 36 and 37 include front faces which are angled with respectto front wall 22 to improve the positioning of cables between the cablemanagement structures (including spools 30 and radius limiters 42) andadapters 50 and connector holders 110.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, connector holders 110, adapters 50 and anysplitters within modules 36 and 37 have been removed. The module housing56 for each module 36 and 37 may be identical and will be describedfurther below. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each module 37 includes 32connector holders in each of seven connector holder modules 37. Thisprovides a total storage capacity as configured of 224 connectors 200.

Fanout module 34 as shown in the FIGS. includes eighteen cable breakouts54. Each cable breakout 54 allows for separation of a service cable orsubunit of a service cable into a maximum of 12 fibers. This provides amaximum capacity for fanout module 34 to receive up to eighteen servicecables or subunits of service cables, and separate out up to 216 patchcords 46 and 48 from these service cables. This permits a connectorholder in storage area 40 for each of the maximum number of patch cords46 and 48 that may extend from fanout module 34.

Patch cords 46 and 48 may be terminated with fiber optic connectors suchas connector 200 shown in FIGS. 22 through 28, below. Optical fiberwithin these cables may be terminated at a polished end face held by aferrule 202 in connector 200, as is well known in the art and shown inU.S. Pat. No. 5,317,663, incorporated herein by reference. Thesepolished end faces and ferrules 202 need to be stored and protecteduntil needed for connecting to other fiber optic cables or opticalsignal equipment.

Often a dust cap 204 may be placed about ferrule 202 and the polishedend face of the optical fiber to protect the polished end face fromcontamination from dust, fingerprints or other items which might degradeoptical signal transmission. While it is known to store these in knownoptical fiber adapters until the fiber within the attached cable isneeded to connect to another fiber optic cable to optical signalequipment, such storage is less than ideal as adapters do not seal thepolished end face from contamination as well as dust cap 204 securelyfit and held about ferrule 202 of connector 200. Known adapters do notpermit insertion of connector 200 which still has dust cap 204 in placeabout ferrule 202 and the polished end face of the cable.

Referring now to FIGS. 15 and 16, connector holder 110 includes a mainhousing 112 defining an interior cavity 114. An open end 118 permitsinsertion of a connector 200 into cavity 114 while an opposite opening116 permits dust cap 204 to protrude from connector holder 10. A clip120 is positioned about main housing 112 and includes a pair of springmounting clips 122. A pair of flanges 124 extends from opposing sides126 of main housing 112 adjacent spring clips 122. Clips 122 and flanges124 cooperate to releasably mount holder 10 to an opening in a bulkheadas is shown below.

Main housing 112 also includes a bottom 130 with a keyway 128 to receivea keyed extension of connector 200 to consistently orient connector 200for insertion into cavity 114. Opposite bottom 130 is an open top closedby a cover 132. This is shown in more detail in FIG. 26, below. FIGS. 17through 21 provide additional views of connector holder 110.

Referring now to FIGS. 22 through 27, connector 110 is shown withconnector 200 positioned within cavity 118. Dust cap 204 extends fromopening 116 of connector holder 110 while connector 200 is insertedthrough open end 114.

Referring now to FIGS. 27 and 28, connector holder 110 further includesan inner housing 134 with a pair of opposing releasable catches 136 andan opening 138 sized to receive dust cap 204. Inner housing 134 ispositioned within main housing 112 through an open top 140 with opening138 adjacent opening 116 and catches 136 adjacent open end 114. Cover132 is then positioned within open top 140 and clip 120 placed aboutcover 132 and main housing 112. Cover 132 may be sealed within open top140 by gluing, ultrasonic welding or a variety of known fasteningtechniques. Connector 200 includes a pair of opposing recesses 206 whichreceive catches 136 when connector 200 is inserted within holder 110.

As shown, connector 200 and holder 110 are SC style. Connector 200 andholder 110 may conform to other styles and formats of electricalconnectors and adapters without straying from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Referring now to FIG. 29, main housing 112 also includes a slot 142along both sides of cavity 114 to receiving and positioning a flange ofinner housing 134 within cavity 114. A recess 144 is provided alongsides 126 to receive clip 120. Open top 140 includes a ledge 146 uponwhich cover 132 is positioned to close cavity 114. An outer bulkhead 168forms a portion of opening 116. An inner bulkhead 145 is positionedspaced apart from outer bulkhead 168 and these bulkheads cooperate todefine slot 142. Between bulkheads 145 and 168 is a positioning surface143 defining the bottom of slot 142.

Referring now to FIGS. 30 to 35, inner housing 134 includes a pair ofclip arms 148 extending from a cross piece 150. Opening 138 forreceiving dust cap 204 of connector 200 is in cross piece 150. Catches136 are at the end of clip arms 148 opposite cross piece 150. Crosspiece 150 includes a pair of flanges 152 which are received in slots 142in main housing 112. As shown in FIG. 32, catches 136 include a rampedportion 154 which is engaged by connector 200 as connector 200 isinserted within cavity 114 through open end 118 of connector holder 110.Clip arms 148 are deflected outward allowing connector 200 to passbetween catches 136. When connector 200 is fully inserted within cavity114 (as shown in FIG. 27) catches 136 are received within recesses 206and a retaining surface 156 of each catch 136 holds connector 200 withincavity 114.

Inner housing 134 is configured to permit insertion within slots 142 ofcavity 114 of main housing 112 in either of two orientations. A pair ofedges 166 of cross piece 150 properly position inner housing withincavity 114 with regard to cover 132 and main housing 112 so that opening138 is aligned to receive dust cap 204.

Referring now to FIGS. 36 to 42, cover 132 includes a recess 158 forreceiving clip 120 along an outer surface 168. Also in outer surface 168is a recess 172 for receiving indicia. Along an inner surface 170 areformed a pair of edges 164 configured to be received upon ledges 146 ofmain housing 112. Extending from inner surface 170 is an outer flange160 which cooperates with bulkhead 168 within main housing 112 to defineopening 116. Also extending from inner surface 170 is an inner flange162 which is spaced apart from outer flange 160 to form a slot 163. Slot163 cooperates within slot 142 of main housing 112 to receive flanges152 of inner housing 134.

At the top of slot 163 is a positioning surface 161 which cooperateswith one of edges 166 of inner housing 134 to position inner housing 134within cavity 114 so that opening 138 of inner housing 134 is alignedwith opening 116. When assembled as connector holder 110, positioningsurface 143 of main housing 112 and positioning surface 161 of cover 132cooperate to engage both edges 166 of inner housing 134. Slot 142 ofmain housing 112 and slot 163 of cover 132 cooperate to capture flanges152 of inner housing 134.

Referring now to FIGS. 43 to 46, clip 120 includes a cross piece 174 anda pair of opposing sides 176. Spring clips 122 are formed in sides 176.Sides 176 are received within recesses 144 of main housing 112 and crosspiece 174 is received within recess 158 of cover 132. It is anticipatedthat clip 120 will be made of a resilient deformable metal to facilitateinsertion and removal from an opening in a bulkhead. Spring clips 122each include an end 178 and a ramped surface 180.

FIGS. 47 and 48 shows fiber optic connector holder 110 inserted withinan opening 184 in a bulkhead 182. Bulkhead 182 may be part of a piece oftelecommunications switching equipment such as a panel for making aplurality of connections between optical fiber cables including aplurality of openings 84 for adapters, as shown in FIG. 48, or inconnector holder module 37. Alternatively, bulkhead 182 may include onlya single opening 184 where only a single fiber optic connector holder110 is needed.

Open end 118 of connector holder 110 is inserted through opening 184until a pair of sides 186 of opening 184 engage ramped surfaces 180 ofspring clips 122. Continued insertion of connector holder 110 will causebulkhead sides 186 to deflect spring clips 122 inward toward sides 126.Bulkhead sides 186 will eventually pass beyond ends 178 of spring clips122. Spring clips 122 will then spring back as shown in FIG. 48,capturing bulkhead sides 186 between ends 178 and flanges 124. Connectorholder 110 may be removed from opening 184 by compressing spring clips122 and removing in a direction opposite the insertion described above.

Alternatively, flanges 124 may be configured to include a fasteneropening so that connector holder 110 can be mounted within opening 184by removable fasteners.

It is anticipated that openings 184 for mounting adapters and connectorholders may be included in sliding adapter packs, such as described incommonly-owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,497,444. The disclosure of this patent isincorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to FIGS. 49 through 52, dust cap 204 includes a centralopening 208 to receive ferrule 202 when ferrule 202 is inserted throughopen end 210. Opposite open end 210 is closed end 212 which includesknurling 214 to provide better grip for removing dust cap 204. Centralopening 208 fits about ferrule 202 to provide a seal about ferrule 202and to hold dust cap to connector 200. Due to the reduction of airvolume within central opening 208 when ferrule 202 is inserted (see FIG.27), one or more helix shaped recesses 216 are provided within centralopening 208 along inner walls 218. Recesses 216 extend from adjacentclosed end 212 to open end 210. Recesses 216 are small enough prevententry of unwanted contaminants and still permit air displaced withincentral opening 208 to be expelled when ferrule 202 is inserted so thatdust cap 204 may be fully seat to connector 200. Recesses 216 also allowair to pass into central opening 208 when dust cap 204 is withdrawn fromferrule 202. The shape of each recess 216 is also designed to allowpassage of air into and out of central opening 208 when dust cap 204 isremoved or placed on ferrule 202 while inhibiting the passage ofcontaminants along the same path.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 through 8, cabinet 10 is shown without housing12. A pair of vertical supports 51 and 52 adjacent sides 26 of housing12 provide mounting locations for the equipment mounted in cabinet 10. Acable management panel 58 is mounted to vertical support 51, and aplurality of cable spools 30 are mounted to panel 58. Bend radiusprotectors 42 are mounted to each module housing 56 adjacent panel 58and provide bend radius protection for cables 46 and 48 being directedfrom spools 30 to modules 36 or 37.

Mounted to the rear of fanout module 34 is a cable clamp 60 for securingthe service cable after it enters cabinet 10 through opening 18 inbottom 20. From clamp 60, the service cable, sub-units of the servicecable or smaller bundles of optical fibers may enter fanout module 34through rear opening 62. In addition to spools 30 mounted to panel 58,another spool 30 is mounted to the front of fanout module 34 to providebend radius protection and direct patch cords 46 and 48 from cablebreakouts 54 into cable spools 30 of panel 58 and radius protectors 42of modules 36 and 37.

Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, splice module 32 includes a splicedrawer 64 slidably mounted within a housing 66. Splice module housing 66includes a pair of mounting flanges 72 and 74 for mounting splice module32 to panel 58 and vertical support 52. A locking drawer latch 68 isincluded in drawer 64 to prevent unwanted or accidental access to thesplices within splice module 32. A rear opening 70 is provided to permitcables from modules 36 to enter housing 66 and be spliced in drawer 64.

Referring now to FIGS. 11 and 12, fanout module 34 includes a front faceto which are mounted the eighteen cable breakouts 54. Fanout module 34also includes a flange 72 for mounting to panel 58 and a flange 74 formounting to vertical support 52.

Referring now to FIGS. 13 and 14, module housing 56 provides the basicshell for both adapter module 36 and connector holder module 37. Housing56 includes a front face 84 with four openings 84. Openings 84 are sizedand configured to receive up to eight adapters 50 or connector holders110, so that a total of thirty-two patch cords 46 or 48 can be received.These adapters 50 or connector holders 110 may be held within opening 84by a retainer clip such as that disclosed in commonly-owned U.S. Pat.No. 5,214,735, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference. Module housing 56 also defines an interior space 86 with acable exit 80 in a side wall 78. When module housing 56 is used for anadapter module 36, each adapter 50 mounted in openings 84 may have aconnector 200 inserted into a rear side that will be optically linkedwith a connector 200 of patch cord 46 inserted into a front side. Theserear connectors 200 may terminate fiber optic cables which may thenextend through cable exit 80.

Alternatively, adapter module 36 may include a splitter within interior86. Then, the connectors 200 attached to the rear of each adapter 50would be optically connected to the splitter. The splitter would thencombine the signals from each of the adapters 50 for a given module 36into a single optical fiber cable which may then be directed out ofmodule 36 through cable exit 80 and to rear opening 70 of splice module32. Within splice module 32, each of the cables carrying the combinedsignals from the patch cords 46 connected to up to thirty-two adaptersof a module 36 could be spliced into another cable for distribution ofthe signals to downstream equipment or customers.

As shown in the FIGS., cabinet 10 is configured for front access only,as no provision is made for an access opening through rear wall 23.Other configurations of housing 12 for cabinet 10 are contemplated,which may include providing additional access into interior 13. Apreferred method of connecting a fiber optic service cable in cabinet 10reduces the need access to the rear of the equipment mounted withinhousing 12.

To connect a service cable within cabinet 10, the service cable is fedinto cabinet 10 through opening 18 in bottom 20. The service cable isdirected into a space between the equipment mounted to vertical supports51 and 52 and rear wall 23 and then clamped to the rear of fanout module34 at clamp 60. From clamp 60, the cable may be broken out intosub-units and directed through opening 62 into an interior 61 of fanoutmodule 34. Within interior 61, the sub-units of cable are further brokendown to the individual fibers which are lead to cable breakouts 54 wherethey are passed out of interior 61 and preferably up-jacketed tostandard patch cords 46 or 48 terminated with connectors 200. Patchcords 46 and 48 are anticipated to standard size patch cords such as 1.7mm, 2.0 mm, or otherwise appropriately sized for routing within cabinet10.

From the breakouts 54, patch cords 46 and 48 are lead over spool 30mounted to fanout module 34 and to the spools 30 mounted to panel 58.From these spools, the patch cords 46 and 48 are led past radiusprotectors 42 and connectors 200 inserted within an adapter 50 and aconnector holder 110, respectively. Patch cords 46, as described above,are optically linked through adapter 50 and possibly a splitter withininterior 86 of adapter module 36 to splice module 32 and then todownstream equipment. As described above, patch cords 48 are stored forfuture use in connector holders 110 with dust cap 104 in place toprotect the polished end faces from damage or contamination.

When one of the stored or inactive patch cords 48 is needed forconnection to downstream equipment, for instance when a new customerrequests service or an existing customer needs to expand service, thedesired inactive patch cord 48 is removed from connector holder 110.Dust cap 104 is removed from ferrule 102 of connector 200 and patch cord48 is partially removed from spools 30 mounted to panel 58. This patchcord is then rerouted so that its connector 200 is adjacent the desiredadapter 50 for connecting to downstream equipment. At this point, theformer inactive patch cord 48 has become an active patch cord 46 and isinserted into the appropriate adapter 50. An active patch cord 46 may beconverted to an inactive patch cord 48 by a reversal of the aboveprocess when a previously required circuit is no longer needed by acustomer or other downstream equipment.

By configuring cabinet 10 as described above, only front access throughaccess opening 16 is necessary in the field for a technician to connecta circuit for a new customer or an existing customer or to take acircuit out of service.

The above specification, examples and data provide a completedescription of the manufacture and use of the composition of theinvention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention, the inventionresides in the claims hereinafter appended.

1. A telecommunications cabinet comprising: a top, a floor, a pair ofopposing sides, a front wall and a rear wall defining an interior, thefront including an access door for accessing the interior; a cablemanagement structure; at least one adapter panel including a pluralityof openings for mounting fiber optic adapters; at least one adaptermounted within one of the openings in one of the at least one adapterpanel, the adapter configured to optical connector two optical fibercables terminated with fiber optic connectors, one cable on a rear sideof the adapter and one cable on a front side of the adapter; at leastone fiber optic connector holder mounted within one of the openings ofthe at least one adapter panel, the connector holder including anopening configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap,the opening of the fiber optic connector holder accessible from a frontside of the adapter panel.
 2. The telecommunications cabinet of claim 1,further comprising a fiber optic connector including a ferrule with apolished end face holding an end of an optical fiber with a dust capplaced about the ferrule and polished end face inserted within theopening of a fiber optic connector holder.
 3. A telecommunicationsconnection rack comprising: a rack mounting structure; a cablemanagement structure; a fanout panel mounted to the rack mountingstructure; an adapter panel mounted to the rack mounting structure, theadapter panel including a plurality of adapter openings sized to receiveand mount fiber optic adapters for optically connecting optical fiberswithin fiber optic cables terminated with fiber optic connectors, and aplurality of optical fiber adapters mounted within the openings; a cableconnector holder panel mounted to the rack mounting structure, the cableconnector panel including a plurality of openings sized similarly to theopenings in the adapter panel and a plurality of fiber optic connectorholders mounted within the openings, each of the fiber optic connectorholders configured to receive a fiber optic connector with a dust cap inplace about an polished end face of a ferrule holding the end of anoptical fiber; the cable management structure configured to direct afiber optic cable from the fanout panel to each of the adapter panel andthe cable connector holder panel and to store excess cable length.
 4. Atelecommunications cable organizer comprising: a first panel includingan array of connector holders on the panel for selectively receiving afirst plurality of connectors including dust caps on one end of theconnector holders, the opposite end of the connector holders configuredto not be matable with any of the connectors; a second panel includingan array of adapters on the panel for selectively receiving the firstplurality of connectors not including dust caps on one end of theadapters, the opposite ends of the adapters configured to be matablewith a second plurality of connectors without dust caps.
 5. A method ofconnecting telecommunications service cables comprising: providing aequipment mounting rack with a fanout module, an adapter module, aconnector holder module and a cable management structure mounted to therack; directing a multi-strand optical fiber service cable to the fanoutmodule; separating the multiple strands of fiber in the service cableinto individual fiber patch cords extending from the fanout module, witha distal end of each patch cord terminated with a fiber optic connector,the fiber optic connector including a dust cap positioned about apolished end face; extending a first patch cord from the fanout moduleinto the cable management structure so that the connector of the firstpatch cord is proximate a fiber optic connector holder mounted within anopening in a front of the connector holder module; inserting the fiberoptic connector of the first patch cord into the fiber optic connectorholder without removing the dust cap; withdrawing the connector of thefirst patch cord from the connector holder; removing the dust cap fromthe polished end face; adjusting the first patch cord within the cablemanagement structure so that the connector is adjacent an fiber opticadapter mounted within an opening in a front of the adapter module;inserting the connector of the first patch cord into the adapter so thatthe optical fiber of the patch cord is optically connected to a secondconnector inserted within an opposite end of the adapter.
 6. The methodof claim 5, wherein the opening in the front of the connector holdermodule is sized to permit mounting of the adapter upon removal of theconnector holder.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method furthercomprises removal of the connector holder from the opening in theconnector holder panel and mounting an adapter such as mounted in theadapter module in the opening in the holder connector module.
 8. Themethod of claim 5, wherein a plurality of adapters are mounted to theadapter module, a plurality of connector holders are mounted to theconnector holder module, and a plurality of patch cords extend from thefanout module.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method furthercomprises directing the connector of each of the patch cords from thefanout module to the cable management structure and to one of theadapter module and the connector holder module, and inserting anyconnectors directed to the connector holder module within a connectorholder without removing the dust cap.
 10. The method of claim 5, whereinthe adapter module includes a splitter which combines optical signalsfrom patch cords inserted within one or more of the plurality ofadapters into a single optical fiber.
 11. A method of connectingtelecommunications cables comprising: providing a first panel includingan array of connector holders on the panel for selectively receiving afirst plurality of connectors and a second panel including an array ofadapters on the panel for selectively receiving the first plurality ofconnectors, the first plurality of connectors each having a dust capabout a first end; inserting the first end of each of the firstplurality of connectors into the connector holders of the first panel;withdrawing a selected one of the first plurality of the connectors fromthe connector holder; removing the dust cap from the first end of theselected connector; inserting the first end of the selected connectorinto one of the adapters of the second panel so that the selectedconnector is optically connected to a second connector inserted in anopposite end of the adapter.